Measurement of electrophysiologic response

Abstract

A method for estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured signal includes obtaining a plurality of samples and defining a plurality of bins, each of which corresponds to a range of values of a sorting parameter associated with each of the samples. Each sample of the measured signal is then classified into one of the bins on the basis of a value of a sorting parameter associated with that sample. Then, for each bin, a statistic indicative of samples classified into that bin is maintained. On the basis of these bin statistics, the desired electrophysiologic response can then be estimated.

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what I claim as new, and secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
       1. A method of estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said method comprising: 
       obtaining a plurality of samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal;  
       defining a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of values of said sorting parameter;  
       for each sample, classifying said sample into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample;  
       for each bin, maintaining a bin statistic indicative of samples classified into said bin; and  
       estimating said electrophysiologic response by combining said bin statistics, wherein combining said bin statistics comprises selecting a subset of said bin statistics to derive a quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response.  
     
     
       2. A method of estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said method comprising: 
       obtaining a plurality of samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal;  
       defining a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of values of a sorting parameter, said sorting parameter being selected to include a measure of noise in said plurality of samples;  
       for each sample, classifying said sample into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample;  
       for each bin, maintaining a bin statistic indicative of samples classified into said bin; and  
       estimating said electrophysiologic response on the basis of said bin statistics.  
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein defining a plurality of bins comprises selecting a range of values for each bin such that each value of said sorting parameter is associated with at most one bin. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting said sorting parameter comprises selecting said sorting parameter to include a measure of electrophysiologic noise in said plurality of samples. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting said sorting parameter comprises selecting said sorting parameter to include a measure of ambient acoustic noise associated with said plurality of samples. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein maintaining said bin statistic comprises maintaining a moving average of samples in said bin. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said electrophysiologic response comprises combining said bin statistics to derive a quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein combining said bin statistics comprises evaluating an average of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein evaluating an average of said bin statistics comprises evaluating a weighted average of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein combining said bin statistics comprises selecting a subset of said bin statistics for deriving said quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , wherein combining said bin statistics comprises selecting weights to apply to each of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting said weights comprises selecting said weights to optimize a measure of an extent to which said quantity approximates said electrophysiologic response. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting said weights comprises selecting said weights on the basis of a measure of a quality of samples in bins corresponding to each of said weights. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting said weights on the basis of a measure of quality comprises assigning a weight to a particular bin on the basis of noise associated with samples in said particular bin. 
     
     
       15. A method of estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said method comprising: 
       obtaining a plurality of samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal;  
       defining a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of values of a sorting parameter;  
       for each sample, classifying said sample into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample;  
       for each bin, maintaining a bin statistic indicative of samples classified into said bin; and  
       estimating said electrophysiologic response by combining said bin statistics, wherein combining said bin statistics comprises selecting weights to apply to each of said bin statistics, said weights being selected to optimize a measure of an extent to which said quantity approximates said electrophysiologic response.  
     
     
       16. A system for estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said system comprising: 
       a digital signal processor configured to receive samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal to define a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of a sorting parameter; to classify each of said samples into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample, and to maintain a plurality of bin statistics, each of said bin statistics being indicative of samples classified into a corresponding bin, said digital signal processor including a noise analyzer for evaluating noise in said plurality of samples;  
       a memory element in communication with said digital signal processor, said memory element being configured to store said bin statistics; and  
       a processing element in communication with said memory element, said processing element being configured to estimate said electrophysiologic response on the basis of said bin statistics.  
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said digital signal processor is configured to select a range of values for each bin such that each value of said sorting parameter is associated with at most one bin. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said noise analyzer is configured to evaluate a measure of electrophysiologic noise in said plurality of samples. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said noise analyzer is configured to evaluate a measure of ambient acoustic noise associated with said plurality of samples. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said digital signal processor is configured to maintain a moving average of samples in said bin. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said processing element is configured to estimate said electrophysiologic response by combining said bin statistics to derive a quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein said processing element is configured to evaluate an average of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , wherein said processing element is configured to evaluate a weighted average of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 21 , wherein said processing element is configured to select a subset of said bin statistics for deriving said quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 21 , wherein said processing element is configured to select weights to apply to each of said bin statistics. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 25 , wherein said processing element is configured to select said weights on the basis of a measure of a quality of samples in bins corresponding to each of said weights. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , wherein said processing element is configured to assign a weight to a particular bin on the basis of noise associated with samples in said particular bin. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said digital signal processor comprises a general purpose digital computer. 
     
     
       29. A method of estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said method comprising: 
       obtaining a plurality of samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal;  
       defining a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of values of a sorting parameter;  
       for each sample, classifying said sample into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample;  
       for each bin, maintaining a bin statistic indicative of samples classified into said bin; and  
       estimating said electrophysiologic response by combining said bin statistics, wherein combining said bin statistics includes selecting weights to apply to each of said bin statistics, said weights being selected on the basis of a measure of a quality of samples in bins corresponding to each of said weights.  
     
     
       30. A system for estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said system comprising: 
       a digital signal processor configured to receive samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal to define a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of a sorting parameter; to classify each of said samples into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample, and to maintain a plurality of bin statistics, each of said bin statistics being indicative of samples classified into a corresponding bin;  
       a memory element in communication with said digital signal processor, said memory element being configured to store said bin statistics; and  
       a processing element in communication with said memory element, said processing element being configured to estimate said electrophysiologic response by combining bin statistics to derive a quantity indicative of said electrophysiological response, said quantity being derived by selecting a subset of said bin statistics for deriving a quantity indicative of said electrophysiologic response.  
     
     
       31. A system for estimating an electrophysiologic response contained in a measured electrophysiologic signal, said system comprising: 
       a digital signal processor configured to receive samples of said measured electrophysiologic signal to define a plurality of bins, each of said bins corresponding to a range of a sorting parameter; to classify each of said samples into one of said bins on the basis of a value of said sorting parameter, said value being associated with said sample, and to maintain a plurality of bin statistics, each of said bin statistics being indicative of samples classified into a corresponding bin;  
       a memory element in communication with said digital signal processor, said memory element being configured to store said bin statistics; and  
       a processing element in communication with said memory element, said processing element being configured to estimate said electrophysiologic response by combining bin statistics to derive a quantity indicative of said electrophysiological response, said quantity being derived by selecting weights to apply to each of said bin statistics, said weights being selected on the basis of a measure of a quality of samples in bins corresponding to each of said weights.